Mr. Conrad Hawes Noddin, age 67, of Spring Hill, passed away on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 at Alive Hospice in Nashville, Tennessee.
Conrad was born in Bangor, Maine on May 10, 1948 to Cornelius Albert Noddin and Edna Mary Hawes Noddin. He graduated from the California Institute of the Arts or CalArts, as it’s called by its students. It was there that he met his best friend and future wife, Alisa Frankfurt. They built a beautiful life together creating music and serving the Lord.
While Conrad was a classically trained musician who could play many instruments including piano, drums and trumpet, he wound up in country music. This unforeseen occurrence happened due to his respect for the musicianship of one particular country artist, Marty Robbins. He played for Marty Robbin’s band as well as writing songs for him. One of those songs, I’ll Go to Pieces, was on Marty’s last album. Once while playing with Marty at the Grand Ole Opry Conrad showcased his talent by playing the piano and the trumpet during the same song. He was the first ever to accomplish this on that stage. Conrad also performed at the White House with Marty Robbins while President Ronald Reagan was in office.
Before Conrad became a musician’s musician, he played in a small band in his hometown on Bangor, Maine called Jester Holiday. He wrote a song for them called The Wall and it is still getting airplay today. Later on he left more public musical pursuits and published Nashville Newzinc and Malibu Video Production. He worked as the videographer, interviewer, writer, publisher, and virtually every other behind the scenes job during the operation of these two companies.
Conrad also loved the Lord with his whole heart. He was a minister of Jehovah’s Witnesses and served as an elder in each location in which he and his wife lived for over twenty years. This was the crucible that led to his leaving a more public life of performance arts. When all was said and done he believed that his love of God and serving Him was more important than fame and fortune.
A memorial service for Mr. Nodding will be held at a later date.
Williams Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements and online condolences may be made to the family at www.williamsfh.com.
